Mat Sadler reveals key Walsall area that requires strengthening this summer

Walsall were condemned to a heavy 5-1 defeat at AFC Wimbledon in their final fixture on Saturday, which saw them finish five points adrift of the play-offs in 11th.

The Saddlers shipped 73 goals in League Two this term, including 12 across their final four games.

It’s been 13 years since Walsall conceded more in a single league campaign (75 in 2010/11) and Sadler insists it’s an issue which needs to be addressed.

He said: “Clearly we want to concede fewer goals. That has to be an area that we will improve on moving into next season because where we want to go, that has to be a backbone for us.

“We all agree that that pride of not conceding, that pride in defending our box, we have to improve on that.”

Admittedly, Walsall have fielded no fewer than 16 different centre-back combinations in League Two either in a pair or a trio due to injuries and suspensions.

Throughout the campaign, Priestley Farquharson has missed 20 games due to three separate injuries, while Harry Williams has been absent for a further 25 with ankle and hip flexor problems respectively.

Despite predominantly operating in midfield during the first half of the season, Oisin McEntee, who is a centre-back by trade, has been out of action for 23 games since suffering a hamstring injury on Boxing Day.

David Okagbue has been unavailable eight times through injury and once due to suspension, and Donervon Daniels was sidelined for eight weeks with an ankle injury.

Even Taylor Allen was suspended for three matches and out-of-favour Rollin Menayese was not available for selection during the first 16 matches.

That’s without factoring in Chris Hussey’s surprise retirement in September and the varying conditions of returning players.

Sadler conceded that fielding a consistent back-line has been “tough” and will focus on finding ways of safeguarding themselves from such injury problems in the future.

“I’d love to see how many different back-lines we’ve had this season. It’s felt like so many times we’ve had to change that back-line and that’s tough,” the Walsall boss continued.

“That’ll be a real area that we want to settle things down with next season.

“Hopefully we get that little bit of luck with injuries and hopefully we’re a little wiser, older and experienced to be able to manage our bodies slightly better.”